Diffusion apparatus



April 25, 195o w. v. MORTON 2,505,716

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DIFFUSION APPARATUS Filed June 22. 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wwf/vra@ WH/PP/ f u Magro/v Wma j M /n's A 7' TOR/VE V Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE DIFFUSION APPARATUS Whipple Vincent Morton, San Francisco, Calif. Application June 22, 1948, Serial No. 34,540

" Claims. (Cl. 1527-7) My invention relates to diffusion apparatus, and particularly an apparatus of the character disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 720,905, nled January 8, 1947, for dissolving -the sugar content from cossettes.

It is among the objects of my present invention to provide a diffusion apparatus provided with Aan improved mechanism for separating cossettes from a solvent at the delivery end of each cell of the apparatus, and for delivering the separated cossettes and solvent in opposite directions through the system to obtain maximum extraction and concentration of the sugar content of the cossettes.

Another object of my invention is to guard against the accumulation of cossettes at the liquid delivery outlets or other points within the system, and to insure a continuous movement of the cossettes through successive cells in one order, and of solvent through the cells in the opposite order.

A further object is to provide a transfer mechanism by which a conveyor, operating to advance the cossettes and liquid along the cells, also provides the power for moving the cossettes onto and along a set of grid bars and a delivery passage to adjacent cells.

A further object is to provide a diifusion apparatus in which a portion of the solution is reclrculated through the nal stages of the system, to increase the concentration of sugar in the solvent, the recirculated portion of the solution being passed through heating means to further increase its solvent action.

The invention `possesses other objects, some of `which with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description wherein is explained that form of the invention which has been selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification. In said drawings, one form of the invention is shown, but it is to be understood that it is not limited to'that form, since the invention as set forth in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the diffusion apparatus of my invention, parts being broken away and other parts being illustrated only in diagrammatic form.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of a part of the apparatus, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure .1.-

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the transfer mechanism at the delivery end of a cell.

Figure a is a transverse sectional view. the

plane of the section being indicated byl the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

In terms of broad inclusion, the apparatus of my invention comprises a plurality of cells through which cossettes and Water or other solvent are passed to effect removal of the sugar content of the cossettes, each cell being provided with a screw conveyor for moving unitary amounts of mixed cossettes and solvent along the cell. Transfer and delivery means are provided for separating the cossettes from the solvent, and for directing the separated cossettes and solvent in opposite directions through the system. My invention particularly contemplates a transfer and delivery mechanism in which the cossettes are moved onto and along a set of grid bars positioned at the delivery end ofthe conveyor of each cellthe solvent being drained through a screen to an outlet chamber provided with agitating means to prevent accumulation of cossettes at the liquid outlet of the cell. My invention also contemplates the recirculation of a part of the sugar solution through a preheating means, and thence through a portion of the dilusion system, to obtain maximum concentration of the solution.

In terms of greater detail, the diffusion apparatus of my invention comprises a, plurality of cells, designated in general by the numeral I. arranged side by side in a series. The cells are preferably of trough type, open at the top, and having bottom portions 2 of semi-circular cross section.

Shafts 3 are mounted within the cells, coaxially with the semi-circular bottoms of the cells. Spiral conveyor blades 4 are secured upon the shafts along portions of the shafts extending from the supply ends of the cells to points spaced from the delivery ends thereof. The blades 4 conform closely tothe inside of the bottom portions of the cells, so that mixed unitary amounts of cossettes and solvent may be trapped between successive turns of the blades for movement thereby progressively along the cells, as the shafts 3 are rotated. The shafts 3 are driven in the same direction from a common drive shaft 6, by suitable drive connections, such as meshing pairs of miter gears l and 8. The spiral blades 4 in adjacent cells I are of opposite pitch, arranged to advance the cossettes in opposite direction along successive cells from the supply to the delivery ends of the respective cells. The shaft E is driven by a belt 9 or equivalent driving connection, from any suitable source of power, not illustrated in the drawings.

Transfer mechanism is provided at the delivery end of each cell for separating the cossettes from the solvent, and delivering them to and from the several cells of the series. The transfer mechanism of the present invention comprises a plurality of sets of transfer arms II secured to a hub I2, carried by the shaft 3 of each cell I, between the spiralconveyor blade 4 and the delivery end of the cell. The arms I I of each set are welded or otherwise secured to the hub I2, preferably in tangential relation thereto, for rotation with the shaft 3.

The sets of arms II are spaced along the hub for movement past adjacent grid bars I4 secured in fixed positions within the upper portion of the cell. The bars I4 are secured to the wall of the cell on the side, at which the cossettes are to bedelivered. The-bars extend in substantially horizontal position from the cell wall to a point over the shaft 3 and hub I2, at a level above the liquid level of the system. The free inner ends of the bars are curved downwardly to a point below the liquid level, and terminate at points relatively widely spaced from the opposite wall of the cell. The bars I4 are of 'a width slightly less than the space between the sets of arms II so that each set of arms II may move freely past the grid bars I4 on either side thereof. In the illustrated arrangement, eight sets of arms II are provided in each cell for movement past grid bars I4 spaced about 1 inch apart.

A screen I6 is mounted to extend across each cell I in spaced relation to its delivery end and adjacent the last of the sets of transfer arms II. The screen I6 permits the solvent to pass therethrough to a delivery chamber Il at the end of the cell, while the cossettes are held back for removal from the portion of the cell ln which the transfer arms I I are operated. The last of the sets of transfer arms II is preferably arranged closely adjacent the screen I6, so that movement of the arms will sweep the cossettes from the screen. Paddles I8 are mounted upon the shaft 3 for movement within the chamber I'I to keep in suspension any small particles of cossettes that may pass tmough the screen, and to insure that they will be carried by the solvent as it flows through a liquid drain passage I9 connecting the chamber I1 with the supply end of an adjacent cell.

Cossettes are preferably supplied to the series of cells I from a supply chamber 2I positioned at the side of the first cell of the series adjacent its supply end. The chamber 2I is Aof trough form, similar in cross section to the cells I, but much shorter. A shaft 22 is mounted in the chamber to correspond to the mounting of the shafts 3 in the cells I; and is driven by the shaft 6 in a corresponding manner. Transfer mechanism, including arms II actuated by the shaft 22 for movement past spaced grid bars I4, corresponding to the transfer mechanism of each cell I, is provided at the delivery end of the supply chamber. Parts `corresponding to the screen I6, delivery chamber I'I, and agitating paddles I8 are also provided.

A plurality of vanes '23 are mounted upon the shaft 22 between the transfer mechanism and the supply end of the chamber 2|, the vanes belng inclined to impell materials toward the transfer mechanism.

Cossettes from an ordinary slicer, not illustrated, are delivered to the chamber 2I by any conventional means, as indicated diagrammatically in FigureY 1 of .the drawings. At the same time, a portion of thersugar solution outgoing from the apparatus through an outlet passage 24 is delivered by a suitable pump 26 through a heater 21 and thence to the chamber 2I. Since the pump and heater units may be of any conventional structure, not material to the present invention, these parts and the flow of solution therethrough are illustrated only in diagrammatic form.

The fresh cossettes and the heated sugar solution are thoroughly mingled by the movement of the vanes within the chamber 2l; the solution being enriched by sugar dissolved from the incoming cossettes, and the cossettes being preheated to facilitate the extraction of the sugar content as they are advanced through the apparatus.

The cossettes are transferred from the chamber 2| to the first cell I, and from one cell to the next of the series, and ultimately to a pulp delivery connection 28, by the operation of the transfer mechanism provided at the delivery end of the chamber and each cell. As the shafts 3 and 22 are rotated, all in counter clockwise direction, as indicated in the drawings, the arms Il pick up cossettes from the solution in which they are suspended. The arms II carry the 'cossettes Iupwardly past the downwardly turned free ends of the grid bars I4, and onto the substantially horizontal portions thereof above the liquid level of the system. The arms of each of the several sets of each transfer unit are substantially parallel, and in each unit act together as a comb to lift, and advance along the bars I4, vthose cossettes which they pick up as they are moved through the solution. The cossettes picked up by each set of parallel arms II, Aare advanced along the grid bars I4 by the arms Il to the point where the arms move downwardly past the level of the bars I4. The cossettes thus initially deposited on the grid bars I4 are advanced by the next batch of cossettes picked up and moved onto the bars by the succeeding row of arms. As the cossettes accumulate on the barsY I4, they are progressively advanced therealong by those subsequently deposited; and, in due course, are pressed through a delivery passage at the fixed ends of the bars. The time required to advance the cossettes along the grid bars to the delivery point, coupled with the pressure required to advance the accumulated mass of cossettes, insures an effective drainage of solution from the cossettes back into the cell from which they are removed. A cover plate 29 is preferably mounted above each set of grid bars I4 to prevent the cossettes from banking up to an objectionable degree; and, in effect, to provide a passage 30 through which the cossettes are delivered to and from the several cells of o the series.

Fresh diffusion water is delivered into the system, in controlled amount, through a supply connection 3|, at the supply end of the last cell I of the series. 'I'he fresh water is trapped in g5 unitary amounts with corresponding unitary amounts of the cossettes delivered into the cell from the next preceeding cell of the series. The mixture of fresh diffusion water and cossettes, trapped between successive turns of the spiral 10 blade 4, is advanced as a unit along the cell to the transfer mechanism at the delivery end of the cell. During movement along the cell, the fresh water dissolves substantially all of the sugar content which remains in the cossettes as they 1| reach the last cell oi' the series.

atomic As the-mixture reaches the transfer mechanism. impelled by the conveyor screw l and succeeding units of water and cossettes, the arms II lift the sugar-free pulp from the cell and deliver it to the delivery connection 28 for further treatment or disposal. The water, with its then relatively low sugar'content, drains through the screen I6 to the chamber I1, and overflows through the passage I9 to the next preceeding cell where it is again trapped and mixed in unitary amounts with cossettes delivered from the next preceeding cell.

At the delivery end of each cell, the cossettes are lifted out of the solvent and are advanced progressively along the system in one direction from the cossettes supply chamber 2l at one end to the pulp delivery connection 28 at the other. At the same time, diilusion water introduced at the supply end of the last cell of the series drains from one cell `back to the preceding cell, and progresses in opposite direction from cell to cell to the outlet passage 24. In this manner, the cossettes are subjected to treatment by unitary amounts of diffusion water of progressively lower sugar content to insure 4substantially complete extraction of the sugar.

The nal concentration of the sugar content in the sugar solution is further increased by utilizing a part of the solution for preheating the cossettes and removing the first fraction of the sugar content therefrom. The reclrculated portion of the sugar solution so used drains into the delivery chamber Il of the supply chamber, and is withdrawn through an outlet connection 32 and remixed with the main ow of sugar solution from the outlet 2l.

I claim:

1. A diffusion apparatus for extracting solubles from solids comprising a plurality of cells, means for supplying cossettes and solvent to the cells, a shaft mounted in each of said cells longitudinally thereof; a spiral conveyor mounted on each of said shafts for moving the cossettes and solvent along the cells, and means for separating the solids from the solvent adjacent the delivery end of each cell, said means comprising a stationary substantially horizontally disposed grid, arms mounted on said shafts and movable between adjacent bars of the grid for lifting the cossettes onto the grid and advancing them therealong for delivery from the cell. and a screen extending across each cell adjacent the delivery end thereof.

2. A diffusion apparatus for extracting sugar from cossettes comprising a plurality of cells, means for supplying cossettes and solvent to the cells, a, shaft mounted in each of said cells longitudinally thereof; a spiral conveyor mounted on each of said shafts for moving the cossettes and solvent along the cells. and means for separating the cossettes from the solvent adjacent the delivery end of each cell, said means comprising a, stationary substantially horizontally disposed grid, arms mounted on said shafts and movable between adjacent bars of the grid for lifting the cossettes onto the grid and advancing them therealong for delivery from the cell, means for delivering solvent from each cell in a direction opposite the direction of delivery of the cossettes, and a screen extending across each cell adjacent the delivery end thereof.

3. A diffusion apparatus for extracting solubles from solids comprising a series of cells positioned in side by side arrangement, means for delivering solids and solvent to the cells. conveyors within the cell for moving the solids and solvent along the cells, a screen extending across each cell adjacent the delivery end thereof, a plurality of fixed horizontally disposed grid bars positioned in the upper portion of each cell transversely with respect to the conveyor and between the delivery end of the conveyor and the screen, a plurality of arms actuated by the conveyor and movable between the grid bars for lifting the solids onto the bars and advancing them therealong for delivery from the cells progressively through the series in one direction, and outlets between, the screens and the adjacent ends of the cells for delivering solvent through the series: in an opposite direction.

4. A diffusion apparatus for extracting solubles from solids comprising aseries of cells positioned in side by side arrangement, means for delivering solids and solvent to the cells.. conveyors within the cells for moving the solids and solvent along the cells, a screen extending across each cell adjacent the delivery end thereof, a plurality of fixed, horizontally disposed grid bars positioned in the upper portion of each cell transversely with respect to the conveyor and between the conveyor and the screen. a plurality of arms actuated by the conveyor and movable between the grid bars for lifting the solids onto the bars and advancing them therealong for delivery from the cells progressively through the series in one direction, outlets between the screens andthe adjacent ends of the cells for delivering solvent through the series in an opposite direction, and agitating means within the cells upon the delivery sides of the screens.

5. In a diifusion apparatus for extracting sugar from cossettes including a plurality of cells through which the cossettes and solvent are advanced, a rotary shaft mounted in each of said cells longitudinally thereof, a spiral conveyor mounted on `each of said shafts, a transfer mechanism for separating the cossettes from the solvent for delivery from a cell comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed grid bars mounted in spaced relation within the upper portion of a cell, a plurality of arms movable between the bars for lifting cossettes from the solvent onto the bars and advancing the cossettes along the bars to a point of delivery, and a screen extending across each cell adjacent the delivery end thereof.

6. In a diifusion apparatus for extracting sugar from cossettes including a plurality of cells through which the cossettes and solvent are advanced, a rotary shaft mounted in each of said c ells longitudinally thereof, a spiral conveyor mounted on each of said shafts, a transfer mechanism for separating the cossettes from the solvent for delivery from a cell comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed grid bars mounted in spaced relation within the upper portion of a cell. a, plurality of arms movable between the bars for lifting cossettes from the solvent onto the bars and advancing the cossettes along the bars to a point of an outlet for the solvent spaced from the grid bars, and a screen between the grid bars and the outlet.

7. In a diifuslon apparatus for extracting sugar from cossettes including a plurality of cells through which the cossettes and solvent are adrality oi' horizontally disposed grid bars mounted Moana in spaced relation within the upper portion of a cell, a plurality of arms movable between the bars for lifting cassettes from the solvent onto the bars and advancing the cossettes along the bars to a point of an outlet for the solvent spaced from the grid bars, a screen between the grid bars and the outlet, and agitating means upon the outgoing side of the screen.

8. In a diffusion apparatus for extracting soluble values from solids, an extraction cell having a bottom portion of substantially semicircular cross section, a shaft extending longitudinally within the trough coaxially with the semi-circular bottom portion thereof, a spiral conveyor blade secured to the shaft and extending from the supply end of the'cell to a point spaced from the delivery end thereof, a plurality of spaced, horizontally disposed grid bars within the upper portion of the cell between the con- -veyor blade and the delivery endof the cell. a

'circular cross section, a shaft extending longitudinally within' the trough coaxially with the semi-circular bottom portion thereof, a. spiral conveyor blade secured tothe shaft and extending from the supply end of the cell to a, point yspaced from the delivery end thereof, a plurality of spaced horizontally disposed grid bars within 'the upper portion of the cell between the conveyor blade and the delivery end of the cell. a plurality of sets of arms secured tothe conveyor 'shaft and movable thereby between adjacent grid bars for moving solids onto and along the bars, an outlet for solvent between the grid bars and the adjacent end of the cell, and a screen 8 extending transversely across said cell between the grid bars and said outlet.

10.In a. diffusion apparatus for extracting soluble values from solids, an extraction cell having a bottom portion of substantially semicircular cross section, a shaft extending longitudinally Within the trough coaxially with the semi-circular bottom portion thereof, a spiral "conveyor blade secured to the shaft and extendbars for moving solids onto and along the bars, an outlet for solvent between the grid bars and,

the adjacent end of the cell, and a, screen extending transversely across said cell between and 'immediately adjacent the outermost members'of said sets of arms and said outlet whereby said last mentioned arms serve to wipe solids from the inner face of said screen.

WHIPPLE VINCENT MORTON.

' REFERENCES CITED .The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Y Date 755,546 Rak Mar. 22, 1904 1,006,311 Steffen Oct. 17, 1911 1,281,057 Naudet Oct. 8, 1918 1,646,762 Morgan Oct. 25, 1927 1,700,922 Coon Feb. 5, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 510,642 France Sept. 10, 1920 133,785 Switzerland Sept. 2, 1929 519,710 Germany Mar. 3, 1931 157,710 Germany Jan. 10. 1940 

